I've been looking for years on something similar to my situation, but can't seem to find any. I have a 2009 323i and I'm looking to change the stupid yellow halogens to HID. I don't know where to start, what to start looking for, or the terms that are being used. Am I supposed to replace the whole unit, or just the bulbs? Please help.

propr'one

12-22-2013 10:49 PM

You need what's called a HID kit, which includes HID bulbs and the ballasts to power those new bulbs. You'll want a CANBUS digital error cancelling kit so that it works plug and play with your car.

you can get a standard 35w HID kit or a brighter 55w hid kit (both are safe for your vehicle since your stock halogens are 55w)

If you want just a lowbeam kit for your car, you'll want to hit yes for lowbeam kit, tick the box for canbus upgrade on lows, pick your colour (4300K will look stock, 5000k is the clean white look) and no to fogs and highs.

dbworld4k

12-22-2013 11:45 PM

^Ivan sells the good stuff. Bought many bulbs from him over the years.

david528

12-24-2013 03:34 AM

Putting the HID kit in is the cheapest way, but then you'll look like a cheap civic driving down the street blinding everybody.... please don't do this.

Jae

12-24-2013 08:30 AM

That's exactly what I don't want to look like. I want it to be like the 328i with the HID's. What can I do? I'm pretty sure changing the bulbs alone would result in me blinding oncoming traffic.

curious, do they make HID kits now with different size capsules, not just rebased d2s?

yessir they do. There's 4 (or maybe 5) different sized glass capsules which are matched with different bases at different lengths to meet (almost) all automotive lighting applications. I carry HID bulbs that fit every size of headlight (and almost all foglights) with correct focal points.

The only exception to this is hi/lo bulbs, particularly ones with halolgen highbeams. The HID burner is actually exactly in the right spot, but due to heat, the halogen highbeam is moved slightly away from the centre of the bulb, which does change the highbeam projection pattern. This is generally not significant enough to be a problem.

Jae

12-25-2013 06:54 PM

Ok sorry, let me rephrase this. Seems like I was even confusing myself while reading this. What I want to have is a headlight unit which has the HID angel eyes, as well as the HID lowbeams. I'm thinking what I'm going to need is a projector unit which can project the HID light, and a HID LED angel eye bulb.